I haven't paid terribly close attention to Bernie Sanders' record on guns. I will admit it's always struck me as odd that he voted against the Brady Bill. I'm not aware if there's some special constituency in his home state of Vermont who hold gun rights dear, and whose support the Senator needs to get elected. Are the interests of rural gun owners of such importance to him, born and raised in Brooklyn as he was? He's obviously fiercely progressive on many fronts. But his reaction to the horrific shootings shocking the conscience of television viewers and internet news aggregator users is bullshit.
http://thehill.com/...
"I am saddened by the senseless deaths of Alison Parker and Adam Ward,” the Democratic presidential candidate told The Hill in a statement. "Jane and I have their families and friends in our thoughts.”
"Saddened?" I'm horrified and shocked beyond belief. Senseless deaths? I don't even know what that means. They weren't swept away by flash flood or killed in a single-engine prop plane. Was there some kind of sensible possible outcome to the events of this morning? No mention of the larger epidemic of gun violence (especially men using guns against women). No feeling of obligation to comfort the concerns of people justly outraged and shocked by today's events. This is the guy whose going to be the number one public policy maker? If you can't even say the word "gun" in response to such events, what am I to conclude? Baffling.
Hillary had no difficulty with her reaction:
Heartbroken and angry. We must act to stop gun violence, and we cannot wait any longer. Praying for the victims' families in Virginia. -H